John Kennedy Toole authored A Confederacy of Dunces, one of the most hilarious and enduring novels in American Literature. Unfortunately, he committed suicide twelve years before its publication. After years of teaching the novel and researching his life, I am writing a book that is long overdue: a critical biography of John Kennedy Toole. In this blog I will share my thoughts and experiences as I explore one of the most compelling stories of American Literary History.

Saturday, July 25, 2009

I am happy to report that I now have a literary agent, which brings this biography one step closer to your bookshelf. As I prepare my book proposal for potential publishers I have been thinking about the population of readers that scholars tend to neglect. They are the casual readers, those strolling through a Barnes and Noble on a Sunday afternoon with an overpriced coffee in hand, or those at the airport bookshop looking to read something on their flight. I have asked myself, why would these readers pick up this biography? What about this story might appeal to them?

And so I hand over this question to anyone willing to offer their thoughts. If you are familiar with Toole, what do you want out of this biography? And if you are not familiar with Toole, what do you look for in a biography? What would make you stop in the bookstore or the airport, pick up this book, and buy it.

I will consider all your comments. And as I reference this blog in the proposal, your comments may very well be seen by a publisher.